Fuel servicing nozzle



Jan. l, 1952 D. sAMlRAN FUEL sERvIcING NozzLE Filed Dec. 17, 1948 ...fi. ill, Ai

INVEN TOR. 5:9 /EH/V Patented Jan. l, 1952 FUEL sanvlcmc NozzLE DavidSamiran, Dayton, Ohio 4.minimum December 17, 194s, serial No. 65,951

y 4 Claims.

(Granted under the m of Mann a. isas, u

`1 The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of anyroyalty thereon. l

This invention relates to a fuel servicing nozzle and is particularlyapplicable iniilling the fuel tanks of aircraft.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel nozzle which willbecarried on the end of the servicing hose of a fuel supply truck or otherfuel supply vehicle for attachment to a fuel tank or to a manifoldthrough which a plurality o! tanks may be serviced.

Another object is to provide means for manually opening the nozzle andlocking it in the open position together with means for automaticallyreleasing the locking means, the automatic releasing means beingresponsive to resistance to further fuel inflow into the tank or tanksbeing filled.

Another object is to provide, in a nozzle, of this kind, means forsecurely joining the nozzle outlet to the fuel intake fitting on anaircraft tank or on a manifold which is connected to service a pluralityof tanks, together with means operative automatically to prevent manualopening of the nozzle unless and until said joining means has been madefully effective, and conversely to prevent releasing said joining meansunless and until :Bow through said nozzle has been shut oi'f.

Another object of the invention is to so construct and arrange thevalving therein that before the nozzle may be disconnected from the fuelintake fitting through which the tank or tanks are being serviced, theoutlet end of the nozzle is completely closed, whereby any fuelremaining in the nozzle will be sealed therein against waste by leakage.Y

Another object is to provide for the valving within my nozzle a dashpotmeans whereby the closing of the several valves will be retarded to theend that more quiet operation will be had. a

Other objectsgand advantages will appear as the invention is morespecifically dened in the speclcation/ and claims and in the drawingswherein a single figure of the drawing represents a preferred form of myinvention. 4

The pistol grip nozzle i herein shown to l1- lustrate an embodiment ofmy invention is simi- A.lar to that shown and described in my copendingapplication Serial No. 546,728 led July 26. 1944, iow abandoned. or likethat in my copending application Serial No.'30,713, iiled June 2, 1948,now

Patent Number 2,556,221, except for several improvements which arenevertheless important as will hereafter appear.

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) In the drawing, the pistol gripnozzle III has a housing I2 with a ilange i4 by which the iniiow openingI5 of the valve is connected to a hose fitting il by bolts 20, the otherend of the hose 22 being connected to and carried on a refuellingvehicle. Spokes 24 held in the housing I2 by a snap ring 25 support a,piston 26 over which a dashpot 25 is slidable.

The dashpot 28 carries a resilient valve disc 30 of synthetic rubber orthe like held in place on a dashpot by an axially slidable clampingmember 32, the hub 33 of which is` in threaded engagement with the hub35 of the dashpot 23. The valve-comprising parts 30, 32, 33. etc.constitute a valve which may be broadly designated by the numeral 3i.

A smaller resilient disc 34 is held between a shoulder 31 on the valveguide 36 and a clamping disc 38 which has a long hub 40 extendingaxially and which is in threaded engagement with the end of the valveguide 35 whereby the disc 34 may be clamped. The hub 40 is enlarged atthe end as at 42, the enlarged portion having limited axial movement ina tubular guide sleeve 4I which is threadedly held in the hub 39 of thepiston 26. The guide sleeve 4I is flanged inward at the end to provide ashoulder 43 whereby axial movement of the enlarged end 42 may beselectively limited. The valve-comprising parts 24, Il, 38, 40, etc.constitute a valve which may be broadly designated by the numeral 45.

The larger resilient disc 30 normally has seating engagement at 44 withthe housing i2 whereas the smaller resilient disc 34 normally hasseating engagement with the hub of the dashpot 2l. A coil spring 45reacting against the piston 25 urges the smaller resilient disc 34 ontoits seat in the hub of the dashpot 25 which in turn urges the largervalve disc 30 onto its seat in the housing I2.

A push rod 48 for raising the valve discs 3l and 34 oi their seats hasbearing in the outer end of a hollow conical hub 50 which projects fromthe clamping member 32. n A space 52 is left between a shoulder 54 onthe rod and the end of the hub`50, space 52 being adjustable by nuts 41abutting a plate 49. Because of the space 52 `between the shoulder 54and the end of the hub 50, the smaller resilient disc 34 will be raisedslightly( oil.' its seat before the larger resilient disc 30 will beraised oil its seat, thereby lessening the effort required to open `thelarger valve.

A relatively long valve opening rod 55 has sliding bearing in a hub 58in the outer wall of the housing i2, a packing 50 being provided toprevent leakage at this point. A bell crank 02 having a power arm andwork arm 00 is pivoted in the housing l2 at 04, the power arm 03 beingacted upon by the flange 01 of an adjusting nut 09 which has threadedbearing on the rod 00. When the nut 00 is properly adjusted. the one endof the valve-opening rod 00 should rest on the short arm 1| of thetrigger 10. The other end of the valve-opening rod 00 is reduced indiameter to provide a shoulder 10 which is slightly removed from the endof the valve stem 11 within which the reduced end of the rod 00 ilslidabie.

A hand grip mechanism 00 having a framework 60 integral with or attachedto the housing I2 is provided to facilitate operation of the nozzle. Atrigger 10 is hinged on the hand grip 00 at 12 whereby pressing down thelong arm 13 of the trigger operates the valve opening rod 00, which inturn, by way of the bell crank 02, operates the push rod 40. Aratchet-like lever 14 is hinged on the handgrip 00 at 10, this leverhaving ratchet teeth 10 which a pawl 00, on the end of the trigger 10may engage. A coil spring 02 adjustable by screw 8| and lock nut 03urges the teeth 10 into engagement with the pawl 00 when the long arm 13of the trigger 10 is drawn outward.

A trigger release mechanism 00 consists of a diaphragm 00 in a two-partcasing l2, 04 the diaphragm having an operatin: rod 00 centrallypositioned in, and secured Lo, the diaphragm. A coil spring 00 biasesthe diaphragm to the unoperated position. A small hole |00 is providedfor admitting a fluid under pressure to the outer surface of thediaphragm whereby movement of the operating rod 00,"acting through theratchet lever 14, releases the ratchet teeth 10 from the pawl 00 andthereby allows the valve discs 30 and 34 to seat.

Means is also associated with the trigger release mechanism for trippingthe release mecha.- nism manually. It consists of a trip bar |02 havingbearings at each end in the framework 00 for sliding movement endwisewith the bar, with a thumbpiece |04 at one end of the bar. The other endof the trip bar |02 is reduced in diameter to provide a shoulder |00against which a spring |00 bears to urge the bar axially.v A pin ||0extends through the framework 00 and through a slot ||2 in the trip bar|02 to limit its axial movement, whereby the swinging of the 1 ratchetlever 14 is arrested in a proper position to hold the teeth 10 wherethey may be engaged by the'pawl 00, whereby, if the thumbpiece |04 isdepressed when the pawl 00 and ratchet teeth 'l0 are engaged, the teethwill be withdrawn from the pawl and the valve dics and 04 will seat.

Extending laterally fromone side of the main housing I2 is a housingextension I |4 which has 'a flange I0 by which it is held to the mainhousing by screws ||0. At the outer end, the housing extension ||4 isexternally threaded as at |20 to receive the internally threaded valveseat ring |22. A conical screen |24 is reinforced at the small end by adisc |20 which has a hub |20 slidably fitted over the valve stem 11, thelarge end of the screen being reinforced by a ring |00.

A spider |02 comprises a ring |34 with inwardly extending legs |00 whichsupport a concentric hub |00 within which the valve stem 11 is slid-vable. The spider ring |34 andscreen ring |30 are of equal outsidediameter and the valve seat ring |22 is internally bored to a shoulder|40 to reeeive the rings |34 and |00, whereby, when the valve seat ring|22 is screwed over the externally threaded end |20 of the housingextension ||4. the spider ring |04 and screen ring |00 will be clampedtogether and to the end of the housing extension .||4 by -the shoulder|40.

On the outer end of the valve stem 11 is a valve head |42 to which awasher y|44 of resilient material, such as synthetic rubber or -thelike, is

fastened by screws In which extend through a l coil spring |02 is heldin compression at one end by .a flange |04 on the hub |00 and at theother end by a flanged member |00 held on the valve stem 11 by a splitwasher |00, wherebythe valve head |42 is normally drawn inward to pressthe resilient washer |44 against the end of the valve seat ring |22.

Surrounding the housing extensionv ||4 is a cover member |00 which isconcentrically spaced from the housing extension by ribs (not shown) thecover member being held against rotation about the axis by set screws inthe ribs.. Between pairs'of the ribs, segments |02 are slidabie axially.Segments |02 have ears |04 at the ends between which locking arms |00are hinged by pins |00. Leaf springs |10 urge the lockingl arms |00inward to the unlocked positionshown.

Concentrically surrounding the segments |02 is a ring |12 which isexternally Iserrated and provided internally with a coarse pitch thread|14 into which corresponding threads on the segments |02 extend, wherebyrotation of the ring |12 moves the segments |02 and their locking arms|00 axially.

On the swingable end of the locking arm |00 is a hook |14. and, adjacenteach hook |14 is a beveled notch |10 which lies over a beveled lug |10formed on the outside surface of the housling extension ||4, wherebywhen the segments the externally serrated and internallythreaded ring|12. Bolts |04 are provided to clamp the split collar |02 to the ring|12 when, with the hooks |14 fully drawn up, the handle is adiusted soas to stop movement in the desired position.

A hub |00 in the wall of the main housing |2 is pipe threaded at |00 toreceive a sleeve |00. Sleeve 00 is bored at one end to slidably fit thelocking pin |02, counterbored for a'v coil spring |04, againcounterbored for a packing gland |00, a pped at the other end for thepacking nut 0 ,which is provided for holding the packing 200.` Thespring |04 acts against a flange 202 on the locking pin |02 to hold thelocking pin in the position shown.

One end of the locking pin |02 abuts a plane surface 204 on the side ofthe handle |00 while the other end rests in a pocket 200 in a cam 200which extends integrally from the work arm 00 of the bell crank 02.Obviously as long as the locking pin is restrained against movement bythe surface 204, the bell crank 02 cannot operate and the severallvalves mustremain locked in the closed position shown.

vThe surface 204 on the side of the vhandle |80, however, extends onlythrough approximately ninety degrees of rotauon, so that, when thehandle is turned through a ninety degree angle, which is the angularmovement required todraw the hooks |14 into clamping position, the edgeof the surface 204 passes orf the end of the locking pin |82 so thatthereafter the trigger 'I0 may be depressed and the several valvesthereby opened. Y

It follows that as long as the valves are open the locking pin preventsmovement of the handle |80 whereby detachment of the nozzle isprevented.

As a connecting means through which the outflow end of the nozzle may bejoined to a tank or to a manifold for servicing a plurality of tanks. afuel intake fitting 2I0 is provided and installed at a convenient placein the skin of the aircraft and has permanent connection with themanifold or tank, connection with a manifold being shown. y The fuelintake fitting 2 I0 comprises a flanged saucer-like member 2I2concentrically positioned over an opening 2I4 in the side of thefuselage. The inner periphery of the saucer 2|2 is slotted to receiveand support the ends of the hooks |14. A flanged cup 2 I 6 surrounds themember 2 I2 and is also concentrically positioned over the opening 2I4and fastened in the side of the fuselage. A hollow casting 2I8 isfastened by screws 220 to the inner end of the member 2li, two resilientwashers 222 with a metal ring 224 of T shaped cross section beingclamped between the hollow casting and the end of the member 2I2. Theother side of the hollow casting 2 |8 is secured to one joint of amanifold 226 by screws 221, a gasket 228 being interposed between thehollow casting and themanifold, the gasket serving also as a seat forthe valve head 230. A hub 232 is an integral part of the hollow casting2 I 8 and is supported on arms 234 one of which is drilled as at 236 fora purpose which will later appear.

Within the hollow casting 2I8 is a valve head 238 which normally isseated on the resilient washer 222. Two axially parallel bolts 240 areslidable through openings in the hub 232 but are fixed against axialmovement with respect to the valve head 230 by reason of the heads ofthe bolts 240 being clamped between the valve head 230 and a washer 242by the small bolt 244.

At the threaded ends, each of the bolts 240 has a nut 24| and jam nut243. Two flanged cups 246 and 248 have their flanges provided with holeswithin which the bolts 240 are slidable. A small stud 250 is fastened bya pin 252 to the valve head 238, the head of the stud securing theflanged cup 248 to the valve head. The other flanged cup 246 is heldagainst the flanged cup 248 by a relatively heavy coil spring 254. Thebottom of the flanged cup 246 has an opening to slidably receive thesmall valve member 256, the small valve member having an enlargedportion which limits its axial movement in the cup 24S. A light spring258 urges the small valve member 256 toward its seat 260.

In the drawing the nozzle is shown in its closed or unoperated state.Attaching the nozzle to an aircraft to be serviced and opening it forthe passage of fuel into the tanks may preferably be accomplishedsubstantially as follows:

The discharge end of the nozzle is inserted into the fuel intake fitting2I0 and the handle |80 is turned through approximately ninety degreesrotation which causes the hooks |14 to move both outward and axially andthereby clam'o the nozzle to the member 2 I2 of the fuel intake fitting.

Since turning the handle |80 through ninety degrees rotation carries theedge of the surface 204 of the handle beyond the end of the locking pin|82, the trigger I0 may now be drawn back until the pawl 80 engages oneof the notches 18 whereby valves 3| and 45 will be opened by the pushrod 48, and valve |33 will be opened by the valve opening rod 63. Theopening of the valve |33 raises the valve head 238 off its seat on theresilient washer 222 and, through the bolts 240, raises the valve head230 off its seat on the resilient washer 228, thereby clearing the pathfor fuel flow through the fuel intake fitting 2I0, at the same timeclosing the vent passageway 260 and 236 by engagement of the small valve266 with the opening 280.

Aircraft tanks of a capacity for which the herein described nozzle isadapted usually each has a means for preventing further inflow of fuelwhen the fuel in the tanks reaches a predetermined level, whereby, whenall tanks have been filled. pressure will build up in the triggerrelease 88 and operate the ratchet lever 14 and thereby cause the valves3|, V45 and |313 toA be closed, the valve heads 230 and 238 to return totheir seats and the small valve 256 to be opened. The dashpot 20 andpiston 26 prevent too rapid closing of the valves.

When the valves 3|, 45 and |33 are closed, any fuel remaining in thenozzle will be retained therein without leakage, and any fuel remainingin the fuel intake tting 2 I0 will be held therein between valve heads230 and 238. the pressure being relieved through the passageway 260 and236. A small conduit 262 may preferably be provided and connected to theopening 236 and carried to the top of one of the fuel tanks of thesystem in order that any leakage from the manifold past the valve head230 will be returned to a tank. A flush cover 264 is hinged to the edgeof the opening 2I4 for closing the opening when the servicing iscompleted and the nozzle has been removed.

Having described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I claim:

1. An improved fuel servicing nozzle comprising, in combination, anozzle housing, normally closed valve means within said housing forpreventing fiuid flow therethrough, manually operable linkage foropening said valve means, nozzle attaching means at the discharge end ofsaid nozzle for connecting said discharge end to a receptacle to beserviced, a lever pivotally carried by said housing for operating saidnozzle attaching means, a locking pin having sliding bearing in saidhousing and having one end normally seated in a pocket in a member ofsaid linkage to prevent operation of said linkage to open said valvemeans, and said lever having a portion normally abutting the other endof said locking pin to maintain the said one end seated in said pocket,said portion being adapted to be withdrawn from the said other end byoperation of said lever to effectuate nozzle connection. whereby nozzleconnection must be effectuated before said valves may be opened.

2. An improved fuel servicing nozzle comprising, in combination, anozzle housing, normally closed valve means within said nozzle housing,

one at the discharge end and one near the inlet holding said valve meansin open position, pressure actuated means actuated by built-up fuelpressure of incoming fuel upstream of the inlet closed fuel dischargevalve at the discharge endof said housing, manually operable linkage foropening said fuel discharge valve. nozzle attaching means at thedischarge end of said housing for connecting said discharge end to areceptacle to be serviced, means normally connecting said receptacle toatmosphere, and means operable by opening of said discharge valve fordisconnecting said receptacle from atmosphere.

4. In a servicing nozzle, the combination of a housing, norm/ally closedvalve means within said housing adapted for preventing fuel ilowtherethrough. manually operable linkage for opening said valve means.manually operable nozzle attaching means movably carried on said housingadapted for connecting said nozzle to a receptacle to be serviced,manual means for operating said nozzle attaching means, a latching meanscarried by said housing having a portion normally seated in a pocket ina member of said linkage to prevent operation of said linkage to 8 opensaid valve means, and said vmanual means having a portion normallyabutting said latching means to maintain said latching means seated insaid pocket, said portion being adapted to be withdrawn from contactwith said latching means by operation oi' said manual means, to permitoperation of said manual means. whereby said linkage may be operated andsaid valve means thereby opened.

DAVID SAMIRAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTSR.

Date

Number Name 1,550,738 Payne Aug. 25, 1925 1,725,828 Payne Aug. 27, 19291,998,221 Conklin Apr. 18, 1935 2,083,078 Mayo June 8, 1937 2,363,123Franck Nov. 21, 1944 2,367,138 Payne Jan. 9, 1945 2,388,852 Killman Nov.13, 1945 2.420,341 Samiran May 13, 1947 2,461,312 Dahlem Feb. 8, 19492,508,626 Snyder May 23, 1950 2,519,358 Davies Aug. 22, 1950

